As the public becomes increasingly familiar with the research into psychedelic compounds, and the enormous promise they demonstrate for the treatment of mental health issues, interest is rapidly growing. This has especially been propelled by the popularity of Michael Pollan’s book, How to Change Your Mind and the associated Netflix documentary of the same name. It is my guess that a large number of visitors to this site have come across these works. 

There is currently no regulatory framework in Australia that provides legal access to psychedelic medicines, outside of participation in a very limited number of clinical trials, which have strict inclusion criteria. This will change in July 2023, when MDMA and psilocybin will be rescheduled for use in cases of PTSD and treatment resistant depression respectively. However, even among those with these diagnoses, access to psychedelic assisted therapy is likely involve significant hurdles for the foreseeable future, due to cost, and other bottlenecks limiting accessibility. Meanwhile, there is an increase in the number of people who don’t want to wait, opting to explore psychedelics in an “underground” setting. 

Unfortunately, underground experiences often lack an appropriate “therapeutic container” in which to ensure proper support is provided to gain the most from the experiences. This can lead to feelings of disorientation, disappointment from unmet expectations, or even bad trips, especially when set and setting are not properly controlled. It can be difficult to know where to turn in such circumstances, as many health professionals do not have familiarity with this area. 

Although I do not endorse the use of psychedelics, I have set up this website as a harm minimisation initiative, specifically to field enquiries from people who have already taken the underground route and are looking for help in integrating and making sense of what they experienced. If this is you, and you are looking for support, I can help. Currently, I don’t work with people who are looking to prepare for a psychedelic experience, as ethically I can’t justify being complicit in preparing a person for an experience in which they may not be adequately supported. Nor, I’m afraid, can I sit with you during a drug experience, or offer advice on where to obtain the medicine, or find a guide.